Basic French for sailors

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SimonFa

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I've always struggled with French, I think its the bad teachers and the less than encouraging attitude of the French because I managed to get to a reasonable standard of German, well enough to get around without any problems. I also learned basic words of quite a few countries when I was travelling a lot for work so its not a typical English fear of forrin.

Anyway, I'd like to broaden my sailing horizons further than Cherbourg and so would like to learn enough to safely call up French marinas and harbour masters for basic information. Any recommendations for books or videos would be most welcome.

Thanks in advance,

Simon
 
If you want to learn French in general, not just boaty French, and can put some time into it, there's always duolingo.com.
 
I learned a lot of basic French as a young sailing instructor, just after the dinosaur extinction.

The reason was that we got a lot of well to do French kids in the summer who had been sent away over the school holidays, mostly, I suspect, so that the parents could get a bit of peace.

The dearest wishes of these delightful young people were twofold. To avoid learning any English whatsoever and to capsize a boat with an instructor in it. They left me with little choice :)

In fact, they really were delightful, mostly, and we had a lot of fun. Couldn't do it now, though.
 
I had similar issues and decided to take an adult education course which has worked wonders for me. Crucially it gave the confidence to fail in a friendly environment. You may not have the spare time to do this of course. Agree that Cherbourg can be a bit of a mixed bag but my experience has been that as you go further west they speak less English and are more inclined to help you out if you at least make some effort. Just don't let them think you are Parisienne!
 
The sort of French you'd get from books and videos isn't going to equip you very well for the string of sentences you'll hear delivered at high speed from a harbourmaster after you have delivered your carefully prepared request for a berth!

The best way to learn, I've found is to go to adult education classes and speak and listen to the language. Then go to France and plunge into the language. My French is pretty terrible but I usually make myself understood and each time I visit I get a little better.

If you are a young man you want to get yourself a French girlfriend, who will soon teach you a thing or two.
 
There is a book, (spiral bound) specifically about marine french for the english - don't have title as it is down on the boat.

I complemented this with Michel Thomas's basic course (I think 8 CDs).

He discourages grammar, swotting, taking notes etc., in effect you learn french as a child learns it, phonetically.

Does it work, I'll let you know when I enter Brittany next season, as you suggest, I wasn't challenged when in Cherbourg.

Bon Journee ! or Bon Navigation !
 
Serin said:
I learned a lot of basic French as a young sailing instructor, just after the dinosaur extinction.

The reason was that we got a lot of well to do French kids in the summer who had been sent away over the school holidays, mostly, I suspect, so that the parents could get a bit of peace.

The dearest wishes of these delightful young people were twofold. To avoid learning any English whatsoever and to capsize a boat with an instructor in it. They left me with little choice :)

In fact, they really were delightful, mostly, and we had a lot of fun. Couldn't do it now, though.
Click to expand...

In was a bit out of my depth with the French girls ..five up in a wayfarer ..they came equipped for more than sailing lessons.
 
Just talk very loudly and slowly. It's much safer than trying the lingo.

My one success was buying a bath plug in Trouville. Quelques chose pour meter dans le trouble d'un Bain s'il vous plais. (It was needed to plug a cockpit drain that leaked).

My worst failure was trying to buy a lemonade for a young daughter and ending up with murky green liquid, lait menthe!
 
If you get to France, meet some French yotties and fancy a race, just say "A l'eau, c'est l'heure!"

Always works a treat...
 
I find the French are great people, and especially good sailors.

If one even makes an attempt to speak French they really appreciate it, just throw in lots of

S'il vous plait, merci,

and a polite ' I would like ' - ' Je Voudrais '.

When working on a barge on the French canals I asked the skipper what the French was for ' please pass me the handle ' ( lock paddle handle ) -

it's ' Passez Moi le truk* s'il vous plait '

* Not sure on the spelling of Truk as it's a long time ago and I was told it phonetically.

However it means ' Pass me the thing please ' which seems a handy phrase for boat owners.
 
816swim said:
There is a book, (spiral bound) specifically about marine french for the english - don't have title as it is down on the boat.
Click to expand...

It's 'French for cruisers': http://www.amazon.co.uk/French-Cruisers-Boaters-Complete-Language/dp/0967590515

Very helpfully laid out in topic sections such as standing rigging, the engine's lubrication oil system, heads plumbing, propellor and shaft, buying a green salad and things you mount at the masthead. Complete with diagrams and arrows, each section shows you both the relevant specialist vocabulary (very useful and quick to reference) and a say-it-as-you-read-it phonetic pronunciation (tedious and shiveringly embarrassing for probably all of us except 'oh you mean Paris, France' Texans.

With the possible exception of the last feature, an excellent purchase.
 
Seajet said:
I find the French are great people, and especially good sailors.

If one even makes an attempt to speak French they really appreciate it, just throw in lots of

S'il vous plait, merci,

and a polite ' I would like ' - ' Je Voudrais '.

When working on a barge on the French canals I asked the skipper what the French was for ' please pass me the handle ' ( lock paddle handle ) -

it's ' Passez Moi le truk* s'il vous plait '

* Not sure on the spelling of Truk as it's a long time ago and I was told it phonetically.

However it means ' Pass me the thing please ' which seems a handy phrase for boat owners.
Click to expand...

Good theory but can waver in practice if you are a total plonker. Some years ago I went into a Cafe/Patisserie in St Vaast (highly recomended by the way) with the chap of the boat moored up next to us for a coffee and a low-calorie fat-free cake to kick start the morning. "Un Caffee s'il vous plait" worked well but the cake was a bit more complex and became "Je voudrais er... one of them (pointing at several thousand calories) s'il vous plait". The chap behind the counter picked out the cake and help it up saying what sounded like "lundow". I repeated lundow back to him and he grinned and nodded at me as did my new neighbour so I have presumably learnt a new French word. I bought a couple more of them ("deux, s'il vous plait?" whilst pointing again) to take back to the boat and we were sitting in the cockpit eating them when the wife of the chap in the next boat (both french but spoke very good english) commented on how nice they looked and asked what they were. Lundow I replied which confused her for a while but caused her husband to start grinning widely and trying not to laugh. Apparently L'un D'eaux or something similar is French for "one of Them".:o
 
SimonFa said:
I've always struggled with French, I think its the bad teachers and the less than encouraging attitude of the French because I managed to get to a reasonable standard of German, well enough to get around without any problems. I also learned basic words of quite a few countries when I was travelling a lot for work so its not a typical English fear of forrin.

Anyway, I'd like to broaden my sailing horizons further than Cherbourg and so would like to learn enough to safely call up French marinas and harbour masters for basic information. Any recommendations for books or videos would be most welcome.

Thanks in advance,

Simon
Click to expand...

It always helps to speak a little of the local language. If you do they will respond.

However I would suppose that most marinas will get by with basic English.
 
grumpy_o_g said:
Good theory but can waver in practice if you are a total plonker. Some years ago I went into a Cafe/Patisserie in St Vaast (highly recomended by the way) with the chap of the boat moored up next to us for a coffee and a low-calorie fat-free cake to kick start the morning. "Un Caffee s'il vous plait" worked well but the cake was a bit more complex and became "Je voudrais er... one of them (pointing at several thousand calories) s'il vous plait". The chap behind the counter picked out the cake and help it up saying what sounded like "lundow". I repeated lundow back to him and he grinned and nodded at me as did my new neighbour so I have presumably learnt a new French word. I bought a couple more of them ("deux, s'il vous plait?" whilst pointing again) to take back to the boat and we were sitting in the cockpit eating them when the wife of the chap in the next boat (both french but spoke very good english) commented on how nice they looked and asked what they were. Lundow I replied which confused her for a while but caused her husband to start grinning widely and trying not to laugh. Apparently L'un D'eaux or something similar is French for "one of Them".:o
Click to expand...

Corrections - it's 'truc' which means roughly "thingmebob..." sometimes rendered as "machin" or "truc machin".
And : "l'un d'eux" ; if it's something feminine : "l'une d'elles". Or if pointing you could say "j'en voudrais un / deux, etc."
 
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816swim said:
There is a book, (spiral bound) specifically about marine french for the english - don't have title as it is down on the boat.

I complemented this with Michel Thomas's basic course (I think 8 CDs).

He discourages grammar, swotting, taking notes etc., in effect you learn french as a child learns it, phonetically.

Does it work, I'll let you know when I enter Brittany next season, as you suggest, I wasn't challenged when in Cherbourg.

Bon Journee ! or Bon Navigation !
Click to expand...

Bonne journée Bonne navigation
 
Wansworth said:
French is basically English with a French accent......
Click to expand...


Try that when asking for a pipe, do come back and tell us how it went blow by blow:encouragement:

Get a copy of the French version of Accastillage Diffusion catalogue, it has a few drawings that might help you with boat bits and bobs, as for general language have a look at Earworms, its French set to music.

Good luck and get stuck in!
 
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